Show IH: Captio is gone — here's my SwiftUI + Cloudflare Workers rebuild
Hey IHers,
Captio — the iOS "email yourself" app — was discontinued in October 2024 after Apple-related issues. I was a daily user for years (GTD inbox), so when it died I built a replacement: Simple Memo (Captio-style).
The Captio workflow, preserved
- Open → type → tap send → cleared, all in under 2 seconds
- The email lands in your own inbox, ready for triage in your normal email/task workflow
- No accounts, no notes database, no extra surface area
What I added (2025 essentials)
- AES-GCM encryption at rest
- Offline Outbox that auto-resends when reconnected
- Custom Cloudflare Workers + Resend pipeline → zero Gmail API dependency (no OAuth lockouts)
- Works with any provider: Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, corporate
Tech / business stack (in case useful for fellow indie makers)
- SwiftUI iOS 16+
- Cloudflare Workers + Resend for the send pipeline
- StoreKit 2 for the $2.99/mo subscription
- Free tier: 3 sends/day. Premium: unlimited + 7-day trial.
Not affiliated with the original Captio team or Tupil — this is an independent rebuild in the same spirit.
🔗 https://simplememofast.com/captio-alternative/
🍎 App Store JP: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/軽快シンプルメモ/id6758438948
🍎 App Store US: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/captio-style-simple-memo/id6758438948
Anyone else still missing Captio? Curious what other small-but-loved apps the community misses. Would also love feedback on the pricing model — debating whether to add a one-time purchase tier.
I love seeing products like this get rebuilt after being discontinued. The fact that you were a daily Captio user gives the project a lot of credibility because you've experienced the pain firsthand.
The "open → type → send → done" workflow is surprisingly hard to replace without adding unnecessary complexity. Keeping it simple seems like the right call.
I'm curious about the pricing decision. Did you test a one time purchase model before settling on $2.99/month? For a utility app like this, I could see former Captio users preferring a lifetime option, even if it's priced significantly higher.
Also, have you been able to reach any former Captio users directly? It feels like there's a niche but passionate audience that might be actively searching for alternatives.
Nice choice with Cloudflare Workers + Resend as well. Reducing dependence on Gmail APIs seems like a smart long term move after seeing how platform dependencies can affect products.
Wishing you success with the launch!